During my graduate career at the University of Oregon, Eugene, I studied the mechanisms for chemotaxis and taste discrimination in the nematode C. elegans with Dr. Shawn Lockery. I then switched to a more medically relevant topic — studying the molecular basis for intoxication by alcohol at University of California at San Francisco medical school. During this time, my elder son was born with Down syndrome. Back then, I was discouraged to find that very little research was being conducted on Down syndrome. My son inspired me to study the genetic basis for Down syndrome in my own lab at The University of Texas at Austin in 2008. Here, a vibrant collection of researchers are dedicated to discovering the causes and potential cures for genetic disorders through innovative research.

My laboratory studies genetic mechanisms that govern behaviors and contribute to neurological disorders. We approach this complex subject by studying how conserved genes contribute to behaviors in the simple but powerful model nematode C. elegans.

How does our nervous system switch between different patterns of movement?

We take for granted that we can switch seamlessly between walking and running gaits, and rapidly shift between different movements. For people with Parkinson’s disease, however, shifting between gaits and simply getting out of a chair become arduous tasks. We have recently found that the fundamental genetic mechanisms for switching between gaits can be studied in C. elegans. Parkinsonian worms fail to transition between swim and crawl gaits. New results in our lab suggest novel strategies to overcome gait dysfunction even in the absence of dopamine production.

How does alcohol affect our nervous system?

The mechanisms by which alcohol causes intoxication and addiction remain unclear at the molecular level. By using C. elegans as a minimal system, we can rapidly identify conserved molecular mechanisms responsible for behavioral responses to alcohol. For instance, we are intensely studying how alcohol activates a conserved BK potassium channel and developing novel drugs to interfere with this response.

Which genes cause problems in Down syndrome?

I initiated research on Down syndrome (DS) because my son has this condition. People with DS inherit an extra copy of the 21st chromosome which carries about 200 genes. It remains unknown which of these genes contribute to the difficulties in learning, memory and fine motor control in DS. We are using powerful genetic techniques specific to C. elegans to systematically study each one of these genes. Through our research we aim to identify the key genes that contribute to dysfunction of the nervous system when overexpressed in DS.

Can we stop neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is inevitable in DS due to an extra copy of the Amyloid Precusor Protein (APP). We have engineered C. elegans to mimic the key features of neurodegeneration observed in human AD by overexpressing a single copy of APP. With this new model, we can test with unprecedented speed whether novel drugs can prevent degeneration of neurons by simply counting them through their transparent body. While mouse studies of AD typically take two years, the compact lifespan of C. elegans affords studies as short as 1 week. We are also using our powerful new model of AD to study the basic science behind how specific types of neurons are vulnerable in AD.

What are the cellular-molecular bases for sensing humidity and magnetic fields?

Although molecules used to detect touch, temperature, taste, olfaction and vision have been discovered, it was unknown how animals detect two additional modalities: humidity and the Earth’s magnetic field. Our lab has recently exploited the simple nervous system and genetics of C. elegans to identify the first neurons and molecules that detect these mysterious sensory modalities in any animal.